Multilayer data carrier and methods for writing on a multilayer data carrier
First Claim
1. A data carrier comprising:
- overlapping layers of different contrasting colors showing information in humanly identifiable form through local removal of areas of an individual layer and exposure of areas of a deeper layer of a different color by a laser beam, said overlapping layers includingat least one thermal breakdown second layer located under a first colored non-metallic layer configured to be permeable by a laser beam, whereby said at least one thermal breakdown second layer is configured to be broken down at least partly under the effect of a laser beam, and wherein said data carrier is configured so that conversion of energy supplied by the laser beam in said at least one second layer and resulting thermal breakdown of said at least one second layer locally remove said first colored non-metallic layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multilayer identity card exhibits an outer color layer of a first color and an inner color layer of a second color to allow for identity cards and the like to be written on in several colors. While the outer color layer absorbs virtually no laser beam light used for writing, the second, inner color layers absorbs the laser light. This causes the material of the second color layer to be thermally broken down during the writing operation, i.e. vaporized, sublimated, exposed to a chemical or physical reaction, so that the formation of pressure and resulting eruption blasts the first layer into particles. This makes the second color layer visible. Instead of the second color layer one can also provide a transparent layer of varnish having suitable properties in order to expose a multicolor security print, for example, below this transparent layer of varnish.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A data carrier comprising:
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overlapping layers of different contrasting colors showing information in humanly identifiable form through local removal of areas of an individual layer and exposure of areas of a deeper layer of a different color by a laser beam, said overlapping layers including at least one thermal breakdown second layer located under a first colored non-metallic layer configured to be permeable by a laser beam, whereby said at least one thermal breakdown second layer is configured to be broken down at least partly under the effect of a laser beam, and wherein said data carrier is configured so that conversion of energy supplied by the laser beam in said at least one second layer and resulting thermal breakdown of said at least one second layer locally remove said first colored non-metallic layer. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40)
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- 2. The data carrier is colored layer and exhibits a thickness and breakdown behavior coordinated to laser beam intensity in such a way as to be removed only down to a certain depth.
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16. A data carrier comprising:
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an outer opaque layer configured to show an at least in a part visible change in color or contrast under the effect of a laser beam; a relief structure, comprising semicylindrical elements, hemispherical elements or corrugated structures, formed in at least said part of said opaque layer;
said relief structure having first sloped surfaces facing toward a recording direction and second sloped surfaces facing away from the recording direction;a direction dependent picture recorded in said first sloped surfaces by a laser beam at an acute angle to the plane of said data carrier so that said picture thus recorded appears in different form depending on the particular viewing angle. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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17. A method for writing on a data carrier having overlapping layers of different contrasting colors showing information in human identifiable form through local removal of areas of an individual layer and exposure of areas of a deeper layer of a different color by a laser beam, comprising the steps of:
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directing the laser beam into a second layer adapted to be thermally broken down; breaking down the second layer at least partially in some places by the effect of the laser beam; and removing areas of a first outer layer located above the broken down areas of the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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18. A method for writing on a multilayer data carrier having overlapping layers of different contrasting colors showing human identifiable form through local removal of areas of an individual layer and exposure of areas of a deeper layer of a different color by a laser beam, comprising the steps of:
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forming an embossed structure at least in a part of a surface of the overlapping layers; and directing the laser beam across the embossed structure at a certain acute angle during the information recording. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification